Stranded in Serial Killer Disney World
Stranded beside Interstate 35 in a suit and dress shoes, I faced three men closing in—armed with only a blue ballpoint pen and an outrageous DEA bluff. That long Oklahoma night became an unforgettable lesson in basketball, accountability and keeping the mission moving.
What One Recruit Taught Me About Preparation, Power and Survival
One recruit produced 39 additional college credit hours, an eight-month NCAA investigation, a $50 bicycle violation and a lesson Terry Waldrop carried into every major professional crisis that followed: always prepare—and always pack a reserve parachute.
How Did a Junior-College Player Earn 39 Credits Before Fall? The NCAA Wanted to Know, Too.
The NCAA investigator saw 39 additional college credits and asked an obvious question: How was that possible? The answer was not a miracle. It was six plus 21 plus six plus six—and every hour was accounted for.
I Gave the NCAA a Bicycle
After eight months of NCAA interviews and investigation, they finally got me. My violation? Transporting a used $50 bicycle so a prospective student-athlete could ride three miles to summer school. I broke the rule—but nearly 30 years later, I still do not believe delivering that bicycle was morally wrong.
What an NCAA Investigation Taught Me About Power, Preparation and Survival
I entered an NCAA investigation intimidated by the people across the table. Eight months later, I understood the table. What followed changed how I approached pressure, preparation, loyalty and power for the rest of my career.